types of data

Sociologists use a wide variety of different methods and sources to obtain data information and evidence about society.

What 2 categories are these data classified into

• Primary and secondary sources of data.

• Quantitative and qualitative data.

Primary and secondary sources of data- primary

what is primary data

Primary and secondary sources of data- primary

information collected by sociologists themselves for their own purposes. These purposes may be to obtain a first-hand 'picture' of a group or society, or to test a hypothesis (an untested theory).

Primary and secondary sources of data- primary

what are 3 methods for gathering primary data

Methods for gathering primary data include:

• Social surveys: these involve asking people questions in a written questionnaire or an interview.

• Participant observation: the sociologist joins in with the activities of the group he or she is studying.

• Experiments: sociologists rarely use laboratory experiments, but they sometimes use field experiments and the comparative method

Primary and secondary sources of data- primary

what is an ✓advantage and a ☓disadvantage of primary data

Primary and secondary sources of data- primary

✓- A advantage of using primary data is that sociologists may be able to gather precisely the information they need to test their hypotheses.

☓- However, doing so can often be costly and time consuming.

Primary and secondary sources of data- secondary

what is secondary data

Primary and secondary sources of data- secondary

is information that has been collected or created by someone else for their own purposes, but which the sociologist can then use.

Primary and secondary sources of data- secondary

what are 2 methods for gathering secondary data

Sources of secondary data include:

• Official statistics produced by government on a wide range of issues, such as education, crime, and other statistics produced by charities, businesses, churches and other organisations.

• Documents such as letters, emails, diaries, photographs, official reports, novels, newspapers, the internet and television broadcasts.

Primary and secondary sources of data- secondary

what is an ✓advantage and a ☓disadvantage of secondary data

✓- a quick and cheap way of doing research, since someone else has already produced the information.

☓- However, those who produce it may not be interested in the same questions as sociologists, and so secondary sources may not provide exactly the information that sociologists need.

Quantitative and qualitative data - quantitative

what is quantitative data

refers to information in a numerical form

Quantitative and qualitative data - quantitative

what are 2 examples of quantitative data :

Quantitative and qualitative data - quantitative

Examples of quantitative data include :

• official statistics on how many girls passed five or more GCSEs,

• Similarly, information collected by opinion polls and market research surveys often comes in the form of quantitative data

Quantitative and qualitative data - quantitative

what is an ✓advantage and a ☓disadvantage of quantitative data

✓- Advantages of using quantitative data:

• Can identify patterns and trends.

• Easy to compare and replicate.

☓-Disadvantages of using quantitative data:

• Lacks depth and detail.

• May miss meanings and experiences.

• Can be affected by researcher bias in design.

Quantitative and qualitative data - qualitative

what is qualitative data

Qualitative data is non-numerical data that explores meanings, feelings, and experiences.

Quantitative and qualitative data - qualitative

what are 2 examples of qualitative data :

Quantitative and qualitative data - qualitative

Examples of qualitative data include :

• Questionnaires or surveys

• In-depth interviews - probe deeply into a person's views can give an insight into what it is like to be in that person's shoes. Shows people's feelings and experiences.

Quantitative and qualitative data - qualitative

what is an ✓advantage and a ☓disadvantage of qualitative data

✓-Advantages of using qualitative data:

• Provides depth and insight.

• Captures meanings and experiences.

☓- Disadvantages of using qualitative data:

• Harder to generalise.

• Time-consuming and less reliable.